The five best wildflower walks in WA
By Jane and Michael Pelusey
Western Australia is justifiably world-famous for its wildflowers. It makes the top ten lists worldwide and has the most variety. Many of these botanical hotspots get busy during peak times in spring, so if you want some solitude in nature, hit a walking trail.
Avid hikers and wildflower lovers, Jane and Michael Pelusey have put together some of their favourite wildflower walking trails. The wildflowers bloom first in the north and then start blooming further south as the weather gets warmer.
1. Coalseam Plateau Loop
- Class 3
- 3.2 km return
- Up to two hours, depending on stops.
- Coalseam Conservation Park is about 100 km east of Geraldton and protects a rare area of Wheatbelt eucalypt woodland.
This trail offers plenty of variety for walkers that don’t mind a few short, steep bits and the occasional rock-hopping. The standout feature of this walk are the vast carpets of pink and white everlastings that paint the landscape after winter rains. The trail leaves Miners Campground, where visitors can camp for up to three nights in tents or caravans (unpowered).
Amongst the gnarly York gum trees, the walk passes by remnants of an old coal mine that operated for a short time in the 1840s. The trail winds up a not-too-challenging slope onto a plateau where yellow pompom everlastings dominate. Sweeping views of the valley add another dimension to one of our favourite places to see wildflowers. For a bit of interesting geology, you can walk along the banks of the normally dry Irwin River and check out the rock layers on the cliffside.
2. Mullewa Bushland Trail
- Class 3
- 2.2 km
- Around one hour
- Mullewa Scenic Lookout
The Wildflower Way, through northern Wheatbelt towns such as Perenjori, Mingenew, Dalwallinu, Moora and Morawa, is an incredibly popular drive trail during the springtime. Although you can easily access wildflowers from your parked car, we have chosen a beautiful little walk starting in the town of Mullewa. Almost starting in town, this short trail has a wonderful range of wildflowers in a small area.
The undulating and relatively easy loop trail starts and ends at Mullewa Scenic Lookout, with nice views of the town and surrounding farms. Along the way, keep an eye out for small caves in the rocky outcrops. Expect to see wildflowers in mass profusion, such as pink, white, and yellow paper daisies, pom-poms, various grevilleas, and wattles, to name just a few.
3. Yued Ponar Trail
- Class 4
- 6 km
- Two to three hours
- Mount Lesueur National Park
With over 900 species of plants and 100 of them found nowhere else, Lesueur National Park is another recognised global biodiversity hotspot. One of the best ways to really appreciate this wonderful variety of wildflowers is to put on the hiking boots and hit the trails. In springtime, expect to see a huge variety of wildflowers, such as ground orchids, melaleucas, banksias and wandoo woodlands. The Yued Ponar Trail itself is quite challenging, with plenty of steep, hilly sections. The payoff for the effort is some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. The trail starts at the Cockleshell Gully picnic area off Cockleshell Gully Road.
For the keen hiker, take on the 26 km Yonga Walk Trail. To fully soak in the beauty of the region, it’s best to take two days and camp overnight. Two other walking trails are easier and shorter alternatives. They are the Gairdner Trail, a Class 3, 2.5 km loop, and the Class 3, 4 km Lesueur Trail. The first 250 metres of the Lesueur Trail is wheelchair-friendly.
It’s best to avoid hiking in the summer months, as it’s often very hot and prone to bushfires.
4. Bluff Knoll Summit Trail
- Class 4
- 6.8 km return
- Around three to four hours
- Stirling Ranges
The Stirling Ranges, near the south coast of WA, is a biodiversity hotspot with over 1,500 plant species (and still counting). What’s more, at least 100 species are found nowhere else on Earth. There are plenty of hiking trails within the Stirling Ranges, but for most fit walkers, the most popular is the Bluff Knoll Summit Trail. At 1,098 metres above sea level, the steep path takes the walker through a range of climatic zones, from temperate to alpine, resulting in a wide range of plant species. Look out for beautiful mountain bells and the Scarlet Banksia.
Throughout the Stirling Ranges, there are at least 50 species of ground orchids, including the spectacular and elusive Queen of Sheba orchid. On reaching the summit, there are glorious views across other parts of the Stirling Ranges and expansive farmlands beyond. On a clear day, you can see the Southern Ocean. Be prepared for dramatic weather changes and dress accordingly, even in summer. Light snow can occasionally fall in winter, so always have a rain jacket with you, even if it’s sunny.
5. East Mount Barren Trail
- Class 4
- 3 km return
- Two to three hours
- Fitzgerald National Park
There are more flowering plant species in this one national park than in the whole United Kingdom. With over 1,800 species of plants and a crazy 75 of them found nowhere else, Fitzgerald National Park is an absolute must for any wildflower enthusiast. Although there’s always something flowering, the peak blooming time is between September and November. The superstar is the spectacular Royal Hakea, followed, in my opinion, by the Qualup Bell.
There are plenty of walking trails in the park, with varying degrees of difficulty and length. For a great selection of flowering plants with many endemic species, it’s hard to go past the East Mount Barren Trail. It is a relatively short 3 km return trail but is quite challenging if you are aiming for the summit, where there are superb views of the rugged coastline. If pushing to the summit doesn’t float your boat, the trail is easy at the beginning for awe-inspiring wildflower displays.
Just a few words of advice.
The intensity of wildflower displays depends on rain falling at the right time of the year. For example, 2023 had a poor season due to drought conditions, but the year before was a bumper season after plenty of winter rain. Check local shires or wildflower social media groups before setting out.
Information and directions for all these trails can be found at trailswa.com.au
